American Higher Education. Its Universal Delineation
American post-secondary education is recognized as college or university commonly embracing four years of study at an institutions of higher learning. There exist approximately 4,495 colleges, universities, and junior colleges in the country.
The four undergraduate grades in the United States are usually called freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years (alternatively called first year, second year, etc.). Furthermore, the American schools differ in their competitiveness and reputation; therefore, generally, the most prestigious schools are private, rather than public.
Generally, the students apply for admission. But, admissions criteria embrace grades earned in high school courses, the learners' GPA, class ranking, and standardized test scores. The tests examples are the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or the ACT (American College Testing). However, many colleges also consider a commitment to extracurricular activities, a personal essay, and an interview.
Furthermore, being admitted, the students should satisfy university and class requirements to achieve a Bachelor's degree in a field of concentration known as a major. Baccalaureate degrees are usually of the following kinds: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), or sometimes another bachelor's degree such as Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.), Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.,) or Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil.), and Bachelor of Architecture Degree (B.Arch.)
Besides, some students are available to attend a community college for two years prior to further study at another college or university. Moreover, some community colleges have automatic enrollment agreements with a local four-year college, where the community college provides the first two years of study and the university provides the remaining years of study. After completion of such institution, the learners are awarded with Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree after two years. In most states, community colleges are operated either by a division of the state university or by local special districts.
After earning at least three years of undergraduate schooling or after earning a Bachelor's degree, the students are offered professional degrees such as law, medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry. These professional fields do not require a specific undergraduate major.
Students have an opportunity to receive Master's degrees (Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Business Administration (MBA), or other less common master's degrees such as Master of Education (MEd), and Master of Fine Arts (MFA)) after obtaining an initial degree and sometimes after several years of professional work. Furthermore, after additional years of study and sometimes in conjunction with the completion of a Master's degree and/or Ed.S. degree, students may earn a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or other Doctoral degree, such as Doctor of Arts, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Theology, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Osteopathy, Doctor of Podiatry Medicine, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Doctor of Psychology, or Juris Doctor. However, the entrance into graduate programs usually depends either upon a student's undergraduate academic performance and professional experience or their score on a standardized entrance exam (i.e. the Graduate Record Examination (GRE-graduate schools in general), the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), or the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)).